Experts have long warned of a global pandemic. Yet, states have ignored these warnings and failed to prepare adequately. Now, outdated public health laws are being hastily revised and - underwritten by criminal sanctions - given intense societal significance, without adequate democratic scrutiny.
This project will contribute to Danish and European responses to COVID-19 by thoroughly mapping and evaluating these hurriedly drafted provisions, while making rapid recommendations for legislative amendments. The project will zero in on restrictions of liberty (internal and external movement) and surveillance measures (tracking using telecommunications data and mobile applications) adopted in Denmark, Sweden, Ireland and the United Kingdom. The case studies, drawing on human rights, EU privacy and international health law, will be evaluated based on the principles of proportionality, non-discrimination and transparency.
PRONTO will provide a research based, open access legal data source.